A PUBLIC consultation on the document which will guide where new homes, businesses, jobs and infrastructure will be developed in North West Leicestershire until 2031 has now begun.

Local people are being asked for their views on the policies that planning officers and members of the planning committee will use when deciding whether to permit or refuse planning applications.

As well as stating how and where new development will take place, the plan also guides how the district’s green space and heritage will be protected.

The main policies in the draft Local Plan are: housing and affordable housing; jobs; infrastructure and facilities; leisure and culture; the natural environment; the historic environment; climate change; gypsies and travellers; transport; shopping; and leisure and open space.

Coun Trevor Pendleton, portfolio holder for regeneration and planning at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: “It may seem as though planning policy has little impact on our daily lives, but you don’t have to look too deeply into the Local Plan to see how it affects every single person in our district.

“This plan tells us where the houses, roads and schools will be built, where we should allocate land for new employment opportunities and where retail developments should go.

“It lays out how we will protect our environment and our heritage assets.

“If you’ve got older children, you might be thinking about how they can afford to buy their first home. If you’ve got aging parents, you might be interested in the policy on homes for older people.

“You might be passionate about North West Leicestershire’s open countryside, or your business could benefit from the policy on employment land.

“There are many aspects to this plan, so I would encourage as many people as possible to have their say.”

Feedback can be given on one or several areas of the plan, so residents can pick and choose which areas they are most interested in.

The consultation ends at 5pm on Monday, November 30, 2015.

The council says it will use the feedback to inform the final version of the Local Plan, which will then be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for approval.

There will be an opportunity to discuss the draft Local Plan with officers at public consultation events.

These include one in Market Place, Kegworth, on October 17, from 10am to noon, and at Castle Donington Library on October 23, from 2pm-5pm.